Catania: DC Medical Marijuana Program 'Only A Few Short Months' Away

WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- On Thursday, D.C. Councilmember David A. Catania released a statement after certificates of occupancy were issued for a medical marijuana cultivation center and a dispensary in the District.

The medical marijuana cultivation center will be located at 1840 Fenwick St, N.E. and a medical marijuana dispensary will be located at 1334 North Capitol Ave, N.W., according to Catania's office.

In a press release on Thursday, Catania said:

"Yesterday's issuance of the certificates of occupancy put us, at long last, at the threshold of an operational medical marijuana infrastructure in the District. Individuals suffering from painful, chronic and life threatening diseases will soon be able to access the medication they need right here in the District. While the process has taken longer than anyone would have liked, I am pleased that we now appear to be only a few short months from the existence of a responsible, well-regulated medical marijuana program. I am proud to have championed the effort and look forward to the day that individuals enduring pain and suffering every day will be able to obtain the effective treatment they require."

Catania introduced the "Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Initiative Amendment Act of 2010." A compromise bill was drawn up in January 2012.

Once the cultivation center getsthe Certificate of Occupancy and has a pre-opening inspection and registration from the District's Department of Health, it can start to grow medical marijuana. According to Catania's office, DOH requires the plants to be at 60 days old before they are harvested.

DOH says more than 100 D.C. physicians have "expressed interest" in participating in the program.